The Metro Animal Services building in Puyallup temporarily closed on December 11 after organic growth was discovered under the office flooring during a routine inspection.
The closure was implemented to ensure the safety of staff, volunteers, visitors, and animals.
Industrial hygienists are scheduled to assess the building to determine what actions are needed for safe reoccupation.
In the meantime, staff have been relocated to a temporary mobile unit on-site.
Although the kennels were unaffected, all 64 animals housed at the facility were moved to foster homes, partner shelters, and other organizations within 72 hours.
Metro Animal Services thanked these partners for quickly assisting during this unexpected situation.
The closure impacts adoptions and surrenders, suspended until further notice.
Visitors are not allowed at the facility, but Metro Animal Services staff and officers are continuing to respond to calls about animals in distress in the seven cities they serve: Puyallup, Sumner, Algona, Bonney Lake, Edgewood, Milton, and Pacific.
For lost pets or stray animals, Metro encourages residents to use social media to help reunite owners with their pets. Strays with a license can be reported to Metro staff at 253-299-PETS.